Man accused of assaulting women at Rose of Tralee

Solicitor says man involved in ‘horseplay’ now lives in Western Australia

Judge James O’Connor: adjourned the case at Tralee District Court to December. Photograph: Eamonn Keogh/MacMonagle, Killarney

A Kerry man involved "in horseplay" at the Festival Dome of the Rose of Tralee is being prosecuted for assaulting three women, Tralee District Court has been told. Owen Caffrey(29) Skehanagh Close, Skehanagh, Tralee, is charged with assaulting the three named women at the Festival Dome , Dan Spring Road, on August 17th, 2014. He was now working in the mines in Western Australia and was hoping to get citizenship there, his solicitor Patrick Mann told Tralee District Court on Wednesday.

Mr Mann said Mr Caffrey had returned to Australia having already spent four years there. He was working in the mines near Perth in Western Australia and was hoping, having already gained residency, for citizenship.

“What was involved was horseplay in the dome during the Rose of Tralee,” the solicitor said. However Judge James O’Connor said the horseplay involved “three girls” who had each complained.

Mr Mann sought a general adjournment. Garda Insp Tony Sugrue said he would agree to a long adjournment, but not a general one. Judge James O'Connor put the matter back to December 12th.